The ratification of the signed Grand Inga Treaty between the Republic of South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been approved by Cabinet and will be tabled in Parliament.
The Grand Inga Project is the centrepiece of a grand vision to develop a power system that has the potential to supply clean and affordable imported hydroelectric power to meet the needs of the DRC, South Africa and surrounding countries. The Treaty provides the framework for the facilitation of power generation and delivery from the Inga site to the border between the DRC and Zambia.
Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, said: “The project which is housed in Southern Africa could advance the region’s development in its endeavor to alleviate energy shortages, whilst stimulating economic growth and infrastructure development to address poverty.”
The Grand Inga Project is in line with South Africa’s long term National Development Plan, which aims to address energy supply security, affordability, climate change mitigation and investment in infrastructure programmes that will contribute to regional integration through imported hydroelectricity.
The Grand Inga mega-project is a priority for a number of African development organisations, including the Southern African Development Community and the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development. It entails the generation of approximately 40 000MW of hydropower on the Congo River, over seven phases.
“The ratification of the Treaty enables development of Phase I of the Project, which will provide 2500MW of electricity to South Africa. It will also contribute to regional integration, energy security, access to energy and economic growth in an environmentally sustainable manner,” said Radebe.
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